Are general practitioner hospitals cost-saving? Evidence from a rural area of Norway.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine whether general practitioner GP hospitals, compared with alternative modes of health care, are cost-saving.


METHODS
Based on a study of admissions (n = 415) to fifteen GP hospitals in the Finnmark county of Norway during 8 weeks in 1992, a full 1-year patient throughput in GP hospitals was estimated. The alternative modes of care (general hospital, nursing home or home care) were based on assessments by the GPs handling the individual patients. The funds transferred to finance GP hospitals were taken as the cost of GP hospitals, while the cost of alternative care was based on municipality and hospital accounts, and standard charges for patient transport.


RESULTS
The estimated total annual operating cost of GP hospitals was 32.2 million NOK (10 NOK = 1 Pound) while the cost of alternative care was in total 35.9 million NOK. Sensitivity analyses, under a range of assumptions, indicate that GP care in hospitals incurs the lowest costs to society.


CONCLUSIONS
GP hospitals are likely to provide health care at lower costs than alternative modes of care.
Aaraas
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Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway.
Søråsdekkan
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H
Kristiansen
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IS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration